Aging

Volunteerism

Volunteers are important community assets, helping to enrich the lives of those they serve and often providing care and services that neither government nor the private sector can afford to provide on their own. The act of volunteering can benefit the volunteer as well. Volunteering provides an opportunity to build relationships, to use one's talents, and to discover a sense of purpose, all of which supports the health of volunteers. Research demonstrates that older volunteers are the most likely to receive physical and mental health benefits (e.g., lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life) from their volunteer activities. Overall, older adults who volunteer provide tremendous in-kind benefits to the community and thereby improving their own health and well-being.